Current conducting apparatus



Nov. 20, 1928.

F. H. MATTHEW ET AL CURRENT CONDUCTING APPARATUS Original Filed July 1 1924 2 Sheets$heet 1 g'nvwnfoz flea/v05 H. MATTHEW NAETl/V' A. Bea/105m: fiPEMR/(KCB. V056ER'AU 3% M 9% Nov. 20, 1928.

F. H. MATTHEW ET AL CURRENT CONDUCTING APPARATUS Original Filed July 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tic} E- U M WTDS W AW umw a AK 5-m HE W A Fflm Patented Nov, 20,

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I 1,692,087 UNITED STATESIPATENTY OFFICE.

a. nnoannnnn, AND rnnnnnrox C.-.'.B. vosonnau,

OF VENICE, CALIFORNIA; SAID VOSGEBAU ASSIGNOR OF HIS RIGHT 'TO LLOYD H.

7 Banmncn'r, or vmu'cn, cumonm ounm'r-oonnucrme arranarus.

Application filed Jul 10,1924, Serial lfo. 726,365. Renewed March 12, 19a.

Our invention relates to ignition systems for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to means for conducting the current from the spark coil to the several spark plugs of the engine.

It is a purpose of our invention to provide an apparatus by which the spark coil, distributor and conductors from the distributor to the spark plugs are thoroughly insulated and thus protected against 011, grease and water to permanently prevent short circuits and current leaks, thereby producing an ignition system in which the maximum current which the system is capable of generating will at all times be supplied to the spark plugs. i It is also a purpose of our invention to provide a current conducting ap aratus having connectors which are extensile to rovide electrical connections betweeri'the spar plugs and a stationary part of the apparatus, and collapsible to permit the read disconnection of the apparatus from the p ugswhen it is desired to remove the plugs for cleaning or other purposes. a i

-We will describe only one form of current conducting apparatus embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan one form of currentconducting a aratusembodying our invention in app ed'position' with respect to an internal combustion ena a Figure 2 1s an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referrin specifically to theidrawin s, in .which simi ar reference characters re era to similar parts, our invention in its present embodiment comprises a conduit K of suitable insulating material, such as bakelite, and of suitable length and diameter to properly perform the functions for which it is desi ned. This conduit K is rigidly held at one si e of an internal combustion en ine, desi ated at E, by means of a pair of rackets which, as shown, are secured to the cylinder head and in embracing relationto the conduit so that the latter is fixedly secured against vibration.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conduithas embedded therein conductors 15 in the form of wires which extendlongitudinally through the conduit to various points along the length of the conduit for connection with conducting rings 16 also embedded in the conduit and having portions exposed to the periphery of the conduit through openings open, and a partition 18 also f rmed of-insulating material divides the housingi interiorly into an upper compartment 19 and a lower compartment 20. The compartment 19 is adapted to receive a conventional spark coil 21 which is completely housed through the provision of a cover 22 threadedly engaging the housing and having extending there-v through a bindin post 23 to whicha conductor24 is connecte which leads to the battery,

as will be understood The post 23 has electrical connection with the prima winding of the coil and the secondary is a apted for electrical connection to a rotating contact (not shown) of adistributor D. The distributor D is received within the lower compartment 20, and a conductor 25 extends through the partition 18 for connecting the secon ary to the rotating contact. This distributor D is rotatably mounted in the compertinent 20 and is guided in its movement a plurality of headed pins 26 movable in s otted plates 27 embedded in the partition 18. The pins are received in sockets 28 formed on the casing of the distributor so that upon rotation of the distributor through the conventional mechanism the pins will slide within the arcuate slotted plates. To each plate 27 is connected a conductor 15, it being understood thatthe four conductors 15 are connected to the respective plates 27 so as to receive the current distributed from the distributor. I

By reference to Figures land 2, it will be seen that a plurality of connectors, designated generally at G, extend laterally from one side of the conduit K, there being one connector for each of the several spark plugs of the internal combustion engine. In the present instance, as we have shown a four cylinder formed of conducting material. A V-shaped car 35 constitutes a part of the head 34 and is adapted to receive the binding post 36 of the spark plug and is'adapted to be gripped by the binding nut 37, as will be understood. The spring 33 is interposed between the heads 32 and 34 and operates to normally urge the member 29 is members 29 and 30 in opposite directions, as.

will be understood. The outer end of the rovided with an arcuate head 38 and projecting from this head is the opposite end of the conducting rod 31. The armate head 38 is adapted to conform to the peripheral curvature of the conduit K and the rod 31 is adapted to extend through the opening 17 for electrical contact with the ring 16.

In the application of a connector to the conduit K themembers 29 and 30 can be forced inwardly toward each other and against the action of the spring 33 to permit the insertion of the connector between the conduit and the respective spark plug when, after positioning the connector so that the conducting rod 31 has electrical contact with the corresponding conducting ring 16, the members are released, thereby ermittin the spring to expand the mem ers, wit I forced against the conduit and the head 34 of the member 30 forced against the binding post 36. In this manner" the connector is rigidly maintained in spanning position with respect to the conduit and spark plug, and

when the nut 37 is in applied position the connector is firmly locked against accidental displacement.

In practice, the conductors 15 and 16, as well as the conductin rods 31, are adapted to be embedded in t e respective elements during the molding thereof so as to provide thorough and permanent insulating means therefor, and efiectively protecting the several conductors against short circuits and current leakages. With the spark coil 21 and the distributor D in position within the housing H it will be clear that current can be supplied to the several spark plugs of the motor through the following circuits: from the pins 26 of the distributor through the plates 27 conductors l5, and conducting rings 16, conducting rods 31, springs 33 and heads 34 to binding post 36. Should it be desired to remove any one of the spark plugs, it will be clear that it is only necessaryto force the .K, thereby eliminating any the member 29 corresponding female member 30 in the direction of the conduit K sufliciently to disengage the ear 35 from the binding post 36, when the entire connector can be disengaged from the spark plug.

It is to be noted that none of the conductors 15 cross each other within the conduit ossibility of short circuiting. This is ren ered possible by virtue of the rovision of the ring conductor 16, as it wi 1 be manifest that the conductors 15 can be extended straight through the conduit at different points alon the length of the latter and into electrica contact with their respective rings 16. An electrical conducting apparatus com rising a solid conduit of insulating materia conducting wires embedded therein, and ring conductors embedded inthe conduit and having electrical contact with the wires, the arrangement of wires being such that one wire is connected to one ring conductor and the several wires connected to the conductors at different points to prevent crossing of the wires.

, Although we have herein shown and described only one form of current conducting apparatus embodying our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.-

We claim:

1. A current conducting apparatus for the ignition systems of engmes comprising a solid conduit of insulating materia a housing of insulating material formed integral with the conduit and adapted for receiving a spark coil and a distributor, conductors connected to the distributor and embedded in the conduit, and connectors detachabl associated with the conduit and adapted or detachable connection to spark plugs for conducting current from the conductors to the spark plugs.

' 2. A current conducting apparatus as embodied in claim 1, wherein the connectorsare prcivided with coverings of insulating mater1a 3. A current conducting apparatus for the ignition systems of engines com rising a solid conduit of insulating materi a housing of insulating material formed integral with the conduit adapted for receiving a spark coil, a distributor, conductors connected to the distributor and embedded in the conduit, and telescopic connectorsdetachably associated with the conduit and adapted for detachable connection to spark plugs for conducting current from the conductors to the spark plugs and connecting means for the conductors and connectors.

4. A current conducting apparatus for the ignition systems of engines, comprisin a solid conduit of insulating material, con nonition systems of engines, comprising a solid conduit of insulating material, a'housing of insulating material formed integral therewith, a partition in the housing for dividing the latter into. two compartments, one. adapted for the reception of a spark coil and the other for the reception of a distributor and conducting plates embedded inthe partition.

6. An electric conducting-apparatus comprising a solid conduit of insulating material,

' a housing integral therewith, a partition in the housing for dividing the latter into two compartments, one adapted for the recep tlon of-a spark coil and the other compartment having means for receiving and centering a distributor therein.

A current conducting apparatus for the i nition systems of engines comprising a conuit of insulating material adapted to be fixedly secured to the-engine, telescoping conducting members adapted to connect the conduit to the spark'plug of an, engine, insulating means for the telescoping members, and a resilient member interposed between the two for normally expanding'the same.

8. A current conducting apparatus forig-' ,nition systems of engines, comprising a con-:

duit of insulating material rigidly connected to the engine, conducting rings and conduc:

tors connected together in theconduit, tele-.

scopic connecting members adapted'to connect the conduit with the spark plug of the engine, connectin 'rods secured to the rings, means interpose between j'the telescopic members for normally expanding the same, and means for insulating the telescopic members and rings and connectors.

9. A current distributing apparatus for the ignition systems of engin'es,comprising a solid conduit of insulating material, a housing of insulating material formed integral with the conduit and having a pair of compartments, one adapted for the reception of a spark coil and the other for the reception of :a distributor, conductors embedded in the conduit and extending into the compartments ofthe housing, and current conducting means connected to the conductors adapted ror conducting current from the conductors to the spark plugsof an engine.

10. A current conducting apparatus as embodied in claim 9, wherein one of the housing com artments is adapted to receive a spark 0011 through the top and the other compartment is adapted to receive a distributor through the bottom thereof.

FRANCIS H. MATTHEW. MARTIN A. BROADBERE. FREDERICK o. B. VOSGERAU. 

